Post removing device



June 7, 1966 N. c. POWELL PosT REMOVING DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1964 I N VE N TOR. BMem//m/fu 47am/frs.

Ll-Ll Il Il United States Patent() 3,254,876 POST REMOVING DEVICE Norman C. Powell, Box 31, Hunter, Kans. Filed Jan. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 340,942 2 Claims. (Cl. 254--132) This invention relates to a post removing device and relates more particularly to a `device for gripping and pulling upwardly on a fence post or the like to remove the same from engagement in a supporting surface vsuch as the ground or the like.

A primary-object of this invention'is the provision of a post removing device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, utilize, assemble and maintain.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the type described which is readily adjustable for accommodating posts of various dimensions, both cross-sectional and longitudinal.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the character described which may be utilized with either a pushing or a pulling force depending upon the article to be removed and also depending upon the area in which the article is located.

A still further object of the instant invention is the provision of a post removing device having extensible handle means to increase the leverage on an article being removed.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and as shown on the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a post removing device in accordance with the instant inventive concept showing a post or the like being removed thereby in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device, with parts being broken away for illustrative convenience;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE 1 and showing in detail the means for adjusting the post gripping means of the device of the instant invention; l

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of FIGURE 4.

Like reference lcharacters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in general, a post removing device inaccordance with the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral .and is shown as associated with a post 12 which may be any elongated article such as a fence post or the like formed of wood or other suitable materials. Although the post 12 is particularly shown as cylindrical in form, it is to be understood that the device of the instant invention will work equally well with posts of other cross sections.

The post removing device 10 is comprised basically of a base means 14, a cross-bar member 16, a hinge means 18 secured to the upper end of the base means 14 Vand pivotally carrying the cross-bar member 16 intermediate its ends, one end 20 of the cross-bar member defining a handle member, the other end 22 of the same carrying a post gripping means designated generally by the reference numeral 24, portions of the -post gripping means 24 defining a bearing surface 26 engageable with one side of Patented June 7, 1966 Aof the handle member 20 about the hinge means 18 engages the post 12 between the bearing surface 26 and the wedge member 30 to pull the post upwardly. Release of the downward pressure allows the wedge member 30 to disengage itself from contact with the post 12 whereby upward pivotal movement of the handle member 20 drops the post gripping means 24 to a -point where the wedge member 30 may be re-engaged with the post 12 in a manner similar to an automobile jack.

The base means 14 is substantially T-shaped and includes a horizontally disposed foot member 32 engageable on a supporting surface which may be the ground or the like in which the post 12 is carried, or which may be a different supporting surface, and a standard member including a lower element 34 secured to the foot member 32 and an upper element 36 carrying the hinge means 18 and telescopingly engaged with the lower element 34, a plurality of apertures 38 being provided in the upper element 36 alignable with an aperture 40 in the lower element 34 whereby a pin member 42 may be engaged through selected apertures as a locking means to selectively secure the lower and upper element 34, 36 to each other in adjusted relation.

The hinge means 18 includes a'substantially square tube member 44 which telescopingly receives .cross-bar member 16, a thumb screw or the like 46 being provided to secure these elements to each other in adjusted relation. A pair of spaced ear members 48, only one being shown for illustrative convenience, depend from the tube 44 and carry a hinge pin 50 extending in pivotal relationship through the upper element 36 of the base means 14, the upper end 52 of which is arcuate.

The cross-bar member 16 is also preferably a substantially square tubular member, and the end defining the handle member 20 telescopingly receives a handle extension member 54 secured in adjusted relation by a thumb screw 56 whereby increased leverage may readily be provided.

The post gripping means 24 is adjustable in order to accommodate posts of varying cross-sectional dimensions and is comprised basically of a rst substantially L-shaped member 58 having one leg 60 secured to or integral with the end 22 of the cross-bar member 16, and a second leg 62 extending substantially at a right angle to the leg 60, a second substantially L-shaped member 64 having one leg 66 disposed substantially parallel to the leg 60 of the rst L-shaped member 58, and a second leg 68 extending at substantially a right angle to the leg 66 and being telescopingly engaged with the leg 62 of the first L-shaped member 58, adjusting means designated generally by the reference numeral 70 being provided to selectively secure the iirst and second L-shaped members 58, 64, respectively in adjusted relation. The adjusting means 70 includes a rod member 72 extending through the legs 62 and 68 of the two L-shaped members and threadably engaging a nut memberv 74 secured to one of the L-shaped members, a pair of washers or the like 76 being secured to the opposite end of the rod member 72 and bearing against portions of the other L-shaped member defining an aperture through which the rod member 72 extends. A crank or handle member 78 may be integrally formed on the rod member 72 or secured thereto in any conventional manner to facilitate rotation of the same and thereby adjustment of the post gripping means 24.

The inner surface of the leg 66 of the second L-shaped member 64 defines the bearing surface 26 and the inner 3 surface of the leg 60 of th'e first L-shaped member 58 carries the wedge means 28.

The wedge means 28 includes a pair of spaced ears 80 having a connecting member 86 secured to the inner surface of the leg 60 of first L-shaped member 58 and having a pin member 82 extending thereacross and pivotally supporting a circular sleeve 84 welded at 88 to the wedge member 30. In operation the wedge member 30 is canted upwardly above the horizontal to engage the forward end 90 of the same again-st the post 12 on downward pivotal movement of the handle member 20 about the hinge means 1S. Note particularly FIG- URE 5.

An auxiliary cross-bar member 92 may be secured to the leg 66 of the second L-shaped member 64 in longitudinal alignment with cross-bar member 16 and extending in an opposite direction therefrom with respect to the post gripping means 24. Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to lift upwardly on the auxiliary crossbar member 92 thereby engaging the post 12 between the bearing surface 26 and the wedge member 30 to lift the same. However, the auxiliary cross-bar member 92 is basically designed to be used by telescopingly engaging the same in the tube member 44 of the hinge means 18 when the cross-bar member 16 has been removed therefrom thereby providing the handle member 20 and the auxiliary handle member 54 on the opposite side of the hinge means 18 whereby upward pivotal movement of the same about the hinge means 18 will engage the post 12 between the bearing surface 26 and the wedge member 30 to pull the post 12 upwardly. It has been found that a person can frequently lift more than he can push down and, therefore, this reversible feature of the device of the instant invention facilitates removing a post where such upward pivotal movement is desirable. Also, this allows the base means 14 to remain stationary while the operator of the device can position himself on the opposite side of the post 12 in the event there is insucint room to actuate the device on the side where the base means has been placed.

The use and opration of the device of the instant invention will now be apparent. The foot member 32 of the base means 14 is positioned on any convenient supporting surface and the lower and upper element 34, 36 of the same are vertically adjusted to a desired height. The post gripping means 24 is then positioned in surrounding relationship to the post 12 and the legs 62, 68 of the same are adjusted as by means 70 to position the bearing surfrace 26 against one side of the post 12 and the end 90 of the wedge member 30 juxtaposition to the diametrically opposed side of the post 12. The handle extension member 54 can then be adjusted with relation to the handle member 20 to provide `additional leverage following which the post 12 may be readily removed by repeated downward and upward pivotal movement of the same. If desired, the cross-bar member 16 may be removed from the hinge means 18 and replaced with the auxiliary cross-bar member 92 to allow for repeated upward and downward movement from the opposite side of the post 12 to remove the same from its engagement with the ground or the like.

The components of the device of the instant invention are preferably formed of a heavy steel or the like, but it -is to be understood that other suitable materials may be utilized. Similarly, where square tubular elements have been shown, it will be readily seen that other crosssections may be provided.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an imvproved post removing device which satisfies all of the objectives of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many modications may be made to the instant inventive concept, and since many embodiments may be made of the modifications hereinbefore described, it is to be under-stood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

ll. A post removing device comprising base means having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end being engageable with a supporting surface, a cross-bar member having two ends, hinge means secured to said upper end of said base means and pivotally carrying said crossbar member intermediate its ends, one end of said crossbar member defining a handle member,4 post gripping means secured to the other end of said cross-bar member, portions of said post gripping means defining a bearing surface engageable with one side of the post, a wedge means secured to said post gripping means and having a wedge member engageable with the post at a point diametr-ically opposed to the point where said bearing surface engages the same, whereby downward pivotal movement of said handle member engages the post between said bearing surface and said wedge member to pull the post upwardly, said post gripping means being adjustable to accommodate posts of different cross sectional dimensions and including a first substantially L-shaped member having one leg secured to said other end of said crossbar member, and a second leg extending at substantially a right angle to said one leg in an opposite direction to said cross-bar member, second substantially L-shaped member having one leg disposed substantially parallel to said one leg of said first L-shaped member and a second leg extending at substantially a right angle to said one leg and being telescopingly engaged with said second leg of said first L-shaped member, and adjusting means selectively securing said first and second L-shaped members in adjusted relation, said wedge means being carried by the inner surface of said first leg of said first L-shaped member, and said bearing surface being defined by the inner surface of said first leg of said second L-shaped member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said adjusting means includes a rod member extending through said second legs of said rst and second L-shaped member, said rod member threadably engaging portions of one of said L-shaped members and including a ange means bearing against portions of the other L-shaped member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 831,780 9/1906 Ferriss 254--131 892,236 6/1908 Eubank 254-132 X 897,991 9/ 1908 McCoy 254--132 X 1,043,223 11/1912 Grady 254-132 1,234,243 7/1917 Williams 254-131 1,260,041 3/1918 Powell 254-132 1,666,454 4/1928 Johnson 254-132 FOREIGN PATENTS 102,478 12/ 1923 Switzerland.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Examiner. 

1. A POST REMOVING DEVICE COMPRISING BASE MEANS HAVING AN UPPER END AND A LOWER END, SAID LOWER END BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH A SUPPORTING SURFACE, A CROSS-BAR MEMBER HAVING TWO ENDS, HINGE MEANS SECURED TO SAID UPPER END OF SAID BASE MEANS AND PIVOTALLY CARRYING SAID CROSSBAR MEMBER INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, ONE END OF SAID CROSSBAR MEMBER DEFINING A HANDLE MEMBER, POST GRIPPING MEANS SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID CROSS-BAR MEMBER, PORTIONS OF SAID POST GRIPPING MEANS DEFINING A BEARING SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE SIDE OF THE POST, A WEDGE MEANS SECURED TO SAID POST GRIPPING MEANS AND HAVING A WEDGE MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH THE POST AT A POINT DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO THE POINT WHERE SAID BEARING SURFACE ENGAGES THE SAME, WHEREBY DOWNWARD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER ENGAGES THE POST BETWEEN SAID BEARING SURFACE AND SAID WEDGE MEMBER TO PULL THE POST UPWARDLY, SAID POST GRIPPING MEANS BEING ADJUSTABLE TO ACCOMMODATE POSTS OF DIFFERENT CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS AND INCLUDING A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING ONE LEG SECURED TO SAID OTHER END OF SAID CROSSBAR MEMBER, AND A SECOND LEG EXTENDING AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID ONE LEG IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO SAID CROSS-BAR MEMBER, SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO MEMBER HAVING ONE LEG DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID ONE LEG OF SAID FIRST L-SHAPED MEMBER AND A SECOND LEG EXTENDING AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID ONE LEG AND BEING TELESCOPINGLY ENGAGED WITH SAID SECOND LEG OF SAID FIRST L-SHAPED MEMBER, AND ADJUSTING MEANS SELECTIVELY SECURING SAID FIRST AND SECOND L-SHAPED MEMBERS IN ADJUSTED RELATION, SAID WEDGE MEANS BEING CARRIED BY THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FIRST LEG OF SAID FIRST L-SHAPED MEMBER, AND SAID BEARING SURFACE BEING DEFINED BY THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FIRST LEG OF SAID SECOND L-SHAPED MEMBER. 